Finals day of Havaianas NSW Grommet Titles lights up at Maroubra Beach
MAROUBRA BEACH, SYDNEY
Sunday, 16 August 2020
by Surfing NSW
The 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles saw four new NSW state champions crowned today following a day of exciting action in small-but-punchy conditions at Maroubra Beach.
Sol Gruendling (Queenscliff) claimed the second boys NSW Grommet State Title for the northern beaches, taking out the Under-14 Boys division. The natural-footer put on an exciting display of backhand carves and snaps in the final to post a decent 13.00 heat total and claim the victory. Max Mcgillivray (Evans Head) remained in contention for a large portion of the heat, but was unable to find the necessary 6.74 needed to take away Gruendling’s lead and settled for second place.
Sol Gruendling (Queenscliff) - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Max Mcgillivray (Evans Head) - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
The Under-14 Girls final saw two Lennox Head surfers taking on two surfers from the Illawarra region with Juniper Harper and Ocea Curtis representing the far north coast region, while Bohdi Simon (Port Kembla) and Shyla Short (Austinmer) represented the Illawarra. All four surfers showed glimmers of promise over the course of the heat, however Harper was able to gain the win thanks to a handful of impressive backhand turns which netted her a 9.84 two-wave heat total. The runner-up victory went to Curtis, while Simon and Short claimed third and fourth respectively.
Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why) used his powerful backhand repertoire to gain the edge against his opponents in the Under-12 Boys final. Zanatta Creagh remained hungry over the duration of his Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles campaign, catching a solid amount of waves in each and every heat and was able to use that momentum to his advantage to take top honours with a decent 13.10 two-wave heat total. Fellow northern beaches surfer Sullivan Tucker also put on an impressive performance, posting an 11.60 total to claim the runner-up spot.
Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why) - photos by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
The Under-12 Girls saw a relatively low-scoring affair between all four finalists as they all endeavoured to clench themselves a NSW state title. Lucy Darragh (Gerringong) was able to gain the upper hand in the final thanks to a respectable 7.47 two-wave heat total which was enough to give herself some distance between her and her fellow competitors.
Lucy Darragh (Gerringong) - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
The three-day event took place at Maroubra Beach from the 14th – 16th August 2020.
The Under-14 division will be given an allocated amount of positions for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles, which will take place in Queensland in December, while the Under-12s will simply decide the boys and girls NSW champions for 2020.
Unlike previous years, where all qualifiers for the 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles at Maroubra were determined by eight individual regional titles, the 2020 event will invite all junior competitors to enter in their respective age divisions.
2020 was the sixth year the Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles and the Woolworths NSW Junior State Titles pres. by Ocean and Earth have been split into two different events, with the amendment designed to cater to the growing demand from younger competitor divisions.
Due to ongoing uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, Havaianas beach games were unable to take place.
For more information, daily imagery, news, and information check out surfingnsw.com.au
The 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles are supported by Havaianas, Randwick City Council, Mothernest, Storage King, Beach Burrito Co, Southend Hotel, and Surfing NSW.
Milla Brown (Bilgola), Finals Day - photos by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
RESULTS:
Under-14 Boys
1 – Sol Gruendling (Freshwater)
2 – Max Mcgillivray (Evans Head)
3 – Samuel Lowe (Port Kembla)
4 – Kash Brown (Cronulla)
- photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Under-14 Girls
1 – Juniper Harper (Lennox Head)
2 – Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head)
3 – Bodhi Simon (Port Kembla)
4 – Shyla Short (Austinmer)
- photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Under-12 Boys
1 – Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why)
2 – Sullivan Tucker (Freshwater)
3 – Balin Cullen (Avalon)
4 – Ocean Lancaster (Merewether)
- photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Under-12 Girls
1 – Lucy Darragh (Gerringong)
2 – Evie Fisher (Gymea Bay)
3 – Mia MacMahon (Norah Head)
4 – Matilda Parkhouse (Stuarts Point)
- photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Havaianas NSW Grommet Title heat up ahead of finals day
MAROUBRA BEACH, SYDNEY
Saturday, 15 August 2020
Report by Surfing NSW
The 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Title continued today with competition heating up in playful and punchy one-foot conditions at Maroubra Beach.
Samuel Lowe (Port Kembla) continued to build on yesterday’s highlight reel performance, nailing an exciting variety of turns to claim victory in his Under-14 round three heat. The Illawarra goofy-footer found a series of rare righthanders in the heat and was duly rewarded with an excellent 8.67 wave score as well as a 7.07 to amass a 15.74 two-wave heat total.
Felix Byrnes (Merewether) synced his powerful forehand attack with the lefthanders on offer, nailing an eclectic mix of carves and snaps to post a respectable 13.57 two-wave heat total and seal his position into next round of the Under-14 Boys.
Other Under-14 Boys round three winners included: Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater), Creed Smart (Sawtell), Max Mcgillivray (Evans Head), Kash Brown (Cronulla), Josh Marsh (Barrack Point), Will Martin (Coffs Harbour), Keenan Crisp (Lennox Head), Jaxon Cowan (Norah Head), Koby Jackson (Lake Tabourie) and Kash Smith (Barrack Point).
Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater) - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Kash Brown (Cronulla) - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Juniper Harper (Lennox Head) sent a warning shot over the head of her fellow Under-14 competitors, shining in her third-round heat. Harper completed an array of powerful backhand hits to finish the exchange with a solid 14.84 two-wave heat total that left her fellow competitors chasing two-wave combinations of scores to take away her lead.
Juniper Harper (Lennox Head) - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Ruby Trew (Seaforth) and Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head) continued their upward trajectory from yesterday with both surfers making their presence felt in their Under-14 Girls round three heat. Both surfers will make their next appearance in the fourth round. Other round three winners included Sydney Chevaller (Dee Why), Milla Brown (Bilgola) and Jada Brown (Newport).
The three-day event will take place at Maroubra Beach from the 14th – 16th August 2020.
The Under-14 division will be given an allocated amount of positions for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles, which will take place in Queensland in December, while th
e Under-12s will simply decide the boys and girls NSW champions for 2020.
Unlike previous years, where all qualifiers for the 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles at Maroubra were determined by eight individual regional titles, the 2020 event will invite all junior competitors to enter in their respective age divisions.
2020 is the sixth year the Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles and the Woolworths NSW Junior State Titles pres. by Ocean and Earth have been split into two different events, with the amendment designed to cater to the growing demand from younger competitor divisions.
Due to ongoing uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, Havaianas beach games will be unable to take place.
For more information, daily news, and information check out surfingnsw.com.au
The 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles are supported by Havaianas, Randwick City Council, Mothernest, Storage King, Beach Burrito Co, Southend Hotel, and Surfing NSW.
photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Junior competitors show up and blow up on the opening day of the Havaianas NSW Grommet Titles
MAROUBRA BEACH, SYDNEY
Friday, 14 August 2020
Report By Surfing NSW
The 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles got underway in a stellar fashion today with some of the rising stars of NSW surfing hitting the one-to-two-foot peaks at Maroubra Beach.
Samuel Lowe (Port Kembla) showed signs of his Dad – former World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) surfer Michael Lowe – as he attacked his opening Under-14 Boys heat. The light-footed goofy-footer annihilated a variety of sections in his heat as he went on to post a giant 16.66 two-wave heat total and earn his spot into the third round that will be contested tomorrow.
Samuel Lowe (Port Kembla) - photo by Josh Brown / Surfing NSW
Joshua Marsh (Barrack Point) and Jordon Charueski (North Narrabeen) both made their presence felt in the opening round with both surfers posting heat totals in excess of 13.00 to earn their spot straight into the third round.
Jordon Charueski (North Narrabeen) - photo by Josh Brown / Surfing NSW
Ruby Trew (Seaforth) made her presence felt in her opening Under-14 Girls heat, posting a gigantic 17.17 two-wave heat total. The northern beaches goofy-footer hammered a variety of turns that impressed the judges and spectators and sealed her position straight into the third round.
Ruby Trew (Seaforth) - photo by Josh Brown / Surfing NSW
Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head) also shone in the same division, nailing a decent 12.43 two-wave total to earn her position into the third round.
Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head) - photo by Josh Brown / Surfing NSW
The three-day event will take place at Maroubra Beach from the 14th – 16th August 2020.
The Under-14 division will be given an allocated amount of positions for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles, which will take place in Queensland in December, while the Under-12s will simply decide the boys and girls NSW champions for 2020.
Unlike previous years, where all qualifiers for the 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles at Maroubra were determined by eight individual regional titles, the 2020 event will invite all junior competitors to enter in their respective age divisions.
2020 is the sixth year the Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles and the Woolworths NSW Junior State Titles pres. by Ocean and Earth have been split into two different events, with the amendment designed to cater to the growing demand from younger competitor divisions.
Due to ongoing uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, Havaianas beach games will be unable to take place.
For more information, daily imagery, news, and information check out surfingnsw.com.au
The 2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet State Titles are supported by Havaianas, Randwick City Council, Mothernest, Storage King, Beach Burrito Co, Southend Hotel, and Surfing NSW.
Austin Kelaher - photo by Josh Brown / Surfing NSW
Anderson Tucker - photo by Josh Brown / Surfing NSW
